can't stand

Idioms  

1. Also,. Thoroughly dislike; be unable to put up with something or someone. For example, I can't stand the sight of her; she's obnoxious, or I can't bear to leave the country, or I can't stomach a filthy kitchen. The oldest of these synonymous expressions is can't abide, which Shakespeare used in 2 Henry IV (3:2): “She could not abide Master Shallow.” Can't stand dates from the early 1600; can't bear dates from about 1700 and often but not always is used with an infinitive; can't stomach dates from the late 1600s and today is less common than the others.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

can't stand

"They keep taking things, I can't stand it," protests the person recording with their phone.

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

“I think the inability to seek federal habeas relief would also lead to more people simply giving up on viable claims for immigration relief because they can’t stand to be in detention any longer.”

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

Healey warned the prime minister he'd have to quit if nothing changed, saying, "As it is, I can't stand behind this – and I would have to resign".

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

I’ve had women who come up and say, “I can’t stand Natalie, and it doesn’t relate to my understanding of religion at all.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

She is in her bedroom, and she calls him because she can’t stand a minute more of this.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

Related Words

• abhor
• despise
• detest
• loathe
• scorn
• shun